ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Attorney Ed Griesedieck pleads guilty in federal court to one misdemeanor count of misappropriation of funds from an insurer.

Griesedieck’s guilty plea comes the day after former Missouri Governor Roger Wilson pleaded guilty to the same charge.   Both men face up to one year in prison and fines of up to $100,000 when sentenced July 9th. 

The scheme involved a $5,000 donation made from the law firm of Herzog Crebs, where Griesedieck was serving as managing partner, payable to the Missouri Democratic Party.  Herzog Crebs then allegedly billed Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance, where Wilson was serving as President and CEO, to recoup the money as a “cost advance,” making it appear as if the bill was for legal work.

Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance (MEM) is a tax-exempt public corporation created by the state. It provides workers compensation coverage for companies with an emphasis on workplace safety, loss prevention and risk management. Wilson had served as president CEO of the firm from January 2010, until he ousted in July of last year amid reports of a federal probe.

For Wilson the indictment comes after a political career that has included 20 years in the Missouri Senate, Lt. Governor under Governor Mel Carnahan, Governor serving out the term Carnahan who died in a plane crash, and Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party before joining MEM. In February, Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich released his audit of MEM, calling for an end to the tax-exempt status MEM enjoys. The audit noted that MEM holds the “dominant market share in Missouri, and has saved over $50 million tax dollars since 1993.”

As of now, the General Assembly has not acted on Schweich’s call for an end to the tax-exempt status.

Griesedieck had worked at KMOX Radio as a fill-in host on weekends.

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